Pharmaceutical Facts

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$ According to industry estimates, drug companies spent $15.7 billion dollars on promotion in 2000, up from $13.9 billion in 1999. (IMS Health)

$ Sixty million "details" were made by 83,000 drug reps in the year 2000. Astra-Zeneca added 1,300 reps solely to promote Nexium. (Scott-Levin Consulting)

$ $7.2 billion dollars worth of free samples were distributed in the year 2000. (IMS Health)

$ The "Research-based" pharmaceutical industry spends more on promotion and administration than it does on research and development. (Families USA)

$ Drug costs increased 18.8% to $131.9 billion dollars in 2000. Over a third of this increase was due to a shift to the use of more expensive drugs. (National Institute for Health Care Management)

$ Two and one-half billion dollars were spent on advertising to consumers in 2000, a 35% increase from 1999; $468 million dollars were spent on journal ads. (NIHCM)

$ Increases in the sales of the 50 drugs most heavily advertised to consumers were responsible for almost half (47.8%) of the $20.8 billion increase in spending in 2000.(NIHCM)

$ In 2000, Merck spent $161 million on advertising for Vioxx. That is more than Pepsico spent advertising Pepsi. ($125 million), and more than Anheuser-Busch spent advertising Budweiser.($146 million) (NIHCM)

$ The increase in Vioxx sales in 2000 accounted for 5.7% of the 1 year increase in drug spending. (NIHCM)

$ Since 1995, R&D staff of U.S. brand name drug companies have decreased by 2%, while marketing staff have increased by 59%. Currently, 22% of staff are employed in research and development, while 39% are in marketing. (PhRMA Industry Profile 2000)

$ In a study by Avorn, et al, forty-six per-cent of physicians reported that drug reps are moderately to very important in influencing their prescribing habits (Amer Journal of Med, 1982).

$ A study by Chew, et al (JGIM, 2000), found that in the treatment of hypertension, over 90% of physicians would dispense a sample that differed from their preferred drug choice.

$ A study by Westfall, et al (JAMA, 1997), found that 96% of physicians and staff had taken samples for personal or family use in the preceding year.

$ The AMA generates $20 million in annual income by selling detailed personal and professional information on all doctors practicing in the United States to the pharmaceutical industry (NY Times, November 16, 2000)

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DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

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Someone forwarded me the above list and I thought I would compile some of my own winners (below) on the drug companies that I have posted over the years.

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